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Massachusetts Bill to Tax “Gas Guzzlers”

Paying for your car, and part of THEIRS!

Andy Bolig - July 23, 2012 02:31 PM

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Funds collected under the program would be used in part to fund rebates for the purchase of such vehicles as hybrids and electric cars

In a misguided attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, legislation (H.B. 253) was approved by the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture to establish a progressive purchase surcharge for some new motor vehicles based on state calculations of carbon emissions.

Depending on the vehicle purchased, this surcharge could require owners to pay up to 10 percent of the price of the vehicle and would take effect July 1, 2013. Vehicles purchased by state residents outside the state would be similarly taxed. Funds collected under the program would be used in part to fund rebates for the purchase of such vehicles as hybrids and electric cars. If this effort is successful, the effects on your ability to purchase the vehicle of your choice, not to mention vehicle safety, will be dramatic. The bill has now been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means for consideration.

We urge you to contact members of the House Committee on Ways and Means (List Below) to request their opposition to H.B. 253H.B 253 will limit consumer choice in purchasing vehicles by making popular performance and luxury cars, as well as SUVs, light trucks and minivans, substantially more expensive to own.

H.B. 253 will not conserve energy. Greenhouse gas emissions depend on a host of other factors such as total miles traveled. H.B. 253 will do little to improve air quality. Air quality has more to do with overall vehicle maintenance than it does with owning and operating any particular class of vehicle. Please contact members of the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee immediately by phone or e-mail to request their opposition to H.B. 253. Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Massachusetts House Committee on Ways and MeansTo e-mail all members of the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee, copy and paste the email address block below: